Social Media’s Latest Features: What’s New on Threads, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok and YouTube This Week
Threads now supports posts up to 10,000 characters with rich formatting. Instagram adds an iPad app and smarter notifications, while Snapchat introduces AI image generation tools.
Social Media Updates and New Features to Know This Week
Here’s a concise update on recent changes across major social media platforms like Threads, Instagram, LinkedIn, and more. These updates offer practical insights for PR and communications professionals looking to optimize their content strategies and audience engagement.
Threads
Threads now supports posts with up to 10,000 characters, allowing for richer, more detailed content. Formatting options include bold, italics, underline, and strikethrough, making it easier to highlight key points. Longer texts appear as a compact block that users can expand, and any included links remain clickable. This change helps avoid breaking content into multiple posts or relying on screenshots.
Snapchat
Snapchat launched the Imagine Lens, its first AI-driven image generation tool based on user prompts. Subscribers to Snapchat+ Platinum and Lens+ can create or edit images by typing commands like “Can you turn me into a cartoon?” This AI feature expands creative possibilities within the app, particularly for visual storytelling.
Instagram improved its comment pinning feature by allowing users to pin their own comments, not just those from others. Additionally, a dedicated iPad app is now available, optimized for a larger screen with a video-first experience focused on Reels. The app includes a Following feed tab with filters and a split-view layout for multitasking.
Another update introduces a machine-learning-powered notification ranking system. It reduces repetitive alerts by demoting similar notifications while prioritizing variety and relevance based on factors like creator and content type. This helps keep engagement high without overwhelming users.
Meta
Meta added a “Restricted Words” option in its ad creation process, allowing advertisers to exclude specific words or phrases from AI-generated ad copy. This helps maintain brand voice and avoid terms that don't fit a company’s messaging. For example, advertisers might restrict overused or generic terms commonly found in AI-generated content to keep ads authentic and aligned with brand identity.
LinkedIn expanded its verification program to include all businesses with Premium Company Page subscriptions. Additionally, verification requirements now cover key roles like recruiters and executives. This aims to build trust and reduce impersonation, which is crucial since 85% of business buyers emphasize trust as a critical factor in decision-making.
TikTok
TikTok introduced new tools for creators on TikTok Shop designed to improve compliance, performance, and content quality:
- Creator Pilot Program: Automatically enrolls new creators with 1,000–5,000 followers into a 30-day onboarding, limiting product promotion to five videos and three live streams weekly.
- Creator Policy Quizzes: Help creators understand platform rules, improving account standing and reducing policy violations.
- Measurement Scores: Provide insights on Creator Health and Promotion Performance to track compliance and effectiveness.
- Violation Snapshot: Highlights potential content issues for creators to address proactively.
- Video Pre-Check: Allows pre-upload review to catch possible policy violations before posting.
YouTube
YouTube launched new features to boost creator engagement and monetization. Community Metrics now offer detailed insights into follower engagement, helping creators identify their most loyal audience segments. Collaborative Playlists let multiple users contribute to a shared playlist, encouraging community interaction.
For monetization, YouTube Shopping expanded product tagging to long-form videos, live streams, and Shorts, simplifying the shopping experience for viewers and creators alike.
